Molding apparatus for ingot molds



' June 3, 1930. I q. E. PERRY r AL 1,762,125

{TRIPP/N6 I MOLDING APPARATUS FOR: INGOT HOLDS Filed April 6, 192B 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ium,

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MOLDING APPARATUS FOR INGOT MoLbs' Filed April 6, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jamar/{Z071 igam June 3,. 1930. E, fiERRY ET AL I 1,762,125

MOLDING APPARATUS FOR INGOT MOLDS Filed April 6, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 i i o 2' IIIIIQH "II II awwntom J. E. PERRY El AL MOLDING APPARATUS FOR' INGOT MOLDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 3, 1930.

Filed April 6, 1928 awuwbom Z. P a

- fizwzzzzgzz MMCMGWW Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE JO N E. PERRY AND JAMES A. LANIGAN, or YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, Assreivons T VALLEY MOULD AND mom CORPORATION, or HUBBARD, 0HIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK Application filed April 6,

The present. invention relates to metallurgy and mo re especially to molding apparatus for use in the manufacture of ingot molds.

Heret-ofore in' the manufacture of ingot molds, it has been customary to ram the sand around the core bar and in the mold flask by hand ramming in View of the fact that the sand facing is of considerable length and of slight thickness, thereby rendering machine ramming difficult.

It is proposed to use molding machines known in the art as sand slingers for the molding operations comprising the present inventions. Sand slinger devices to be in accordance with the present invention have a capacity which delivers sand rapidly to a localized point and in order thatthe sand may pack solidly, it is necessary that this localized point he moved rapidly otherwise the sand piles up and falls over as loose particles which do not compact evenly. In attempting to use sand slingers in the-present work, it was found impractical to guide the sand delivery head around the narrow opening to be filledby the sand wall with suflicientrapidity togive' uniform ramming at a distance of more than five feet from the sand delivery head.

The present invention overcomes the known difficulties by rapidly revolving the sand space, for the flask or core bar, beneath the sand delivery head. The space to be sanded on the core bar is a tubular narrow space and the space to be sanded in a flask is likewise narrow and tubular. Thesenarrow contin- 1 uous spaces may be moved beneath the delivery head of the machine by revolving either the core bar and core box or the flask and mold pattern upon their vertical axes. The head of the machine is thereupon oscillated back and forth in order to be maintained directly over the space to be sanded while the rapid revolution of the setup takes place. This permits a uniform spiral or helical building up of the sand which permits the sand to pack tightly and produce excellent mold sand walls. Preferably, though not necessarily, the delivery head of the molding machine is guided automatically and this may be done in various ways by tracks, cams, disk containing cross head, cross MOLDING APPARATUS FOR INGOT MOLDS 1928. Serial No. 267,822.

under a predetermined discharge of sandfrom the delivery head. It therefore follows that the number of revolutions per minute a core bar or core box isrevolved on its vertical axis will be dependent upon the length of the periphery of the space to be sanded. A small core bar will be rotated at more revolutions per. minutethan a large core bar in order that the peripherial or linear speed of the sand space shallv be equalin both cases. To this end, the mechanism is also provided with variable speed drive gearing so that the core boxes or flasks of different sizes may be rotated at the proper speeds.

It is realized that the present invention may be embodied in structures other than those herewith disclosed and therefore the disclosure is to be considered as illustrative and not in the limiting sense.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan'view of a preferred form of device.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the track rail for guiding the delivery head of the sand machine. i

Fig. 4 is a vertical diagrammatic view showing a small turn table brought beneath the sand machine head at a station where a variable drive gearing is provided.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the single arm sand machine shown in Fig. 4, with the hopper of the machine removed.

The preferred form of the present invention is that of superimposed turn tables, in that a large turn table 1 supports a plurality of small turn tables which may for example comprise four in number, namely, turn tables 100 2, at, 5, and 6. The large turn table 1 preferably is provided with means for rotating the same which may, comprise cog gear teeth 7 mounted on the under-frame'of the large turn table and connected by suitable gearing 8, 9, and 10 with a prime mover which may comprise electric motor 11. This drive mechanism rotates the large turn table on its vertical axis and positions the small turn tables at operating stations relative to the apparatus operated from the main floor and adapted to cooperate with the small turn tables. For example, the station A, (Fig. 1) is the ramming station; station B is the stripping station; stationC is the unloading station; and the station I) is the set-up station.

Each of the small turn tables is equipped with means for rotating the turn tables which may take the form of a large cog gear 12, the axis of which is coincident with the axis of the small turn table. WVhen a small turn table is brought to station A, the large cog gear 12 is brought into mesh with a drive pinion 14 connected with suitable gearing 15 to a prime mover such as an electric motor 16, whereby the small turn table at stationA is rapidly rotated on its vertical axis.

The sand slinger which is diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may be of a type well known in the art, such as is disclosed in the Beardsley et al. United States Patent 1,534,566, April 21, 1925. Briefly, this piece of apparatus comprises a pedestal 17 with a main arm 18 pivoted to swing for adjustment about the pedestal 17 and with the forearm 19 pivotedon the 'end of the main arm so that the head 20 may have a universal movement in a single plane. The forearm carries a drive motor 21 which is connected by suitable shafting with a rotating head mounted in the casing 22 and provided with a discharge nozzle 24. Sand is conveyed to the drive head by suitable sand conveying apparatus comprising a sand hopper 25 and conveyors such as shown in said patent. The sand is thrown by centrifugal force through the nozzle 24 in substantially a downward straight line stream having a high velocity. The casing 22 of the head is provid'ed with a guide arm 26 which preferably carries gu de rolls 27 that extend on each side of a guide rail or track 28 that is attached to the upper part of the apparatus being sand rammed.

The set-up illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2 at station A, comprises a core ramming base 29, the core bar 30 having a sand carrying core bar base 31 attached thereto and set in the ramming base 29. The core box 32 is mounted on the core ramming base and extends over a part of the core bar base so as to provide a sand space between the core bar and the side walls of the core box. The sand discharge nozzle 24 is located directly over this space 34 and is held in position over this space by the cooperation of the guide rolls 27 with the guide rail 28. The motor 16 revolves the small turn table 2 at proper speed. As the sand is fed to the sand slinger, a continuous stream of sand is rapidly thrown downwardly at a high velocity into the space between the core bar 30 and the sides of the core box. The velocity of the sand causes it to impinge on the bottom of the set-up and build up in the sand space uniformly. The rapid revolutions of the small turn table causes the sand to build up in a spiral layer around the corebar. This spiral layer is suflieiently thin so that there is no tendency of the sand to pile up and crumble ahead of the impact zone. Therefore, as the sand builds up in the space between the core box and the core bar, it forms a very solid, uniformly compact mass.

Prior to beginning of operations, the core bar is wetted and this causesthe sand to adhere tightly thereto. The individual compacting of the sand particles permits the use of a coarser sand, thereby establishing better ventilation for mold ases and the compacting is so even and sohd that mulley' may be entirely omitted from the core bar. As the set-up is rotated, the guide rail 28 passing between the guide rolls 27 moves the discharge nozzle laterally as the plan shape of the space to which the sand is being thrown varies, so that the nozzle is always directly over the space to be sanded. The maintenance of the nozzle is relative stationary except for its to and fro oscillating movement. The rotating of the set-up permits a movement to be established to' an air column which is first downward and then spirally upward so that the air which goes down with the sand is carried around and comes out of the set-up from the opposite side thereby establishing a condition which is relatively stable so far as the air path is concerned, and this facilitates compacting the sand around the core bar.

Preferably, core bars .and flasks are set in alternation on the small turn tables 2, 4, 5, and 6 so that assuming a continuous series of operations to be in progress; while a'core bar is being sanded at station A, a flask 35 is being stripped from an ingot mold pattern 36 at station B and a new flask is being set up over a pattern at station 1). The mold pattern is left on the small turn table and nothing occurs at station C so far as the pattern is concerned unless there is to be" a change in mold pattern in which case a new pattern is placed in position at station C, assuming that the rammed core bar and core box have reached station B and-that a flask is being rammed at station A. In this position, the core box is stripped from the core bar and the sanded core bar removed from the ramming base 29. Anew core bar may now be placed on the core bar ramming base at station C and a core box set-up thereon at station D.

Preferably, there are two cranes in operation. one ofwhich operates to takeaway the finished flasks and core bars and the other of which operates to set up equipmentat stations C andD. The crane runways are preferably in the direction of the arrow X (Fig. 1) relative to the stationary floor in which the large turn table 1 revolves. The large turn tablel is preferably of such size as to permit crane operations to set up and strip equipment without interfering with the sanding operation.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is that of a variable drive for the small turn table, and the sand machine is shown as having a single arm pivoted directly on the pedestal, which is Capable of being raised and lowered. Inthe construction illustrated in these views 4 and 5, the small turn table 33 is provided with a large annular gear 37, which is connected with a small drive gear 38 mounted on a drive shaft 39 supported in suitable bearings (not shown). A slidea-ble friction wheel 40 is keyed to slide on the drive shaft 39 and to bear against the friction disc 41, which is connected directly to the drive shaft 42 of the electric motor 44. A suitable ,slideable rod 45 is forked at its lower end to fit into a groove in the hub of the friction wheel 40, and which slideable member is connected by a link 46 with a control lever 47 adapted to be locked at different positions by means of a latch 48 and a segment 49. This construction permits the friction wheel 40 to assume various radial positions relative to the friction drive 41 whereby different rotative speeds may be communicated to the turn table-33 through the driving gears 37 and 38. By means of this construction, core bars or flasks of different diameters may be rotated at the required speeds beneath a head 50 of the sand machine, which head is mounted on an arm 51 which is pivoted on a pedestal 52. This pedestal carries a sand hopper 54 and the arm 51 extends beyond the pedestal to carry a motor 55 that counter-balances the sand head 50 on the opposite side of the pivot or bearing 56 of the arm on the pedestal. In this construction, the single arm oscillates back and forth as the equipment is revolved when the roller 57 beneath the sand head has been lowered into engagement with the track 58 on the core box. This lowering the pedestal member 59 of the sand machine may be accomplished by a screw gear mechanism (not shown in detail), which raises or lowers the sand head 50 to accommodate and cooperate with equipment of different heights during the sanding operations.

From the foregoing, it will appear that the operations are those of a continuous series of steps whereby equipment is rapidly and efliciently rammed and removed from the ramming zone.

Having described our invention, we claim: 1. Apparatus for sand ramnnng equipment for the manufacture of ingot molds,"

of said devices being coincident with the axes of rotation of sa d small turn tables, a ramlning station to which said small turn tables are adapted to be moved by the rotatlon of the large turn table, driving mechanismat.

said ramming station adapted to rapidly rotate the small turn table positioned at said ramming station, sand slinger mechanism adjacent said ramming station with the nozzle of said sand slinger mounted over the I sand space of the molding devices, and means to maintain said nozzle over said sand space during the rotation of the said small turn table at the ramming station.

2. Apparatus for said ramming equipment for the manufacture of ingot molds, said apparatus comprising a large turn table, a plurality of small turn tables earned by said large turn table and mounted to rotate thereon, molding devices provided wlth sand spaces, said devices being mounted upon certain of said small turn tables with the axes of said devices being coincident with the axes of rotation of said small turn tables, a ramming station to which said small turntables are adapted to be moved by the rotatlon of the large turn table, driving mechanism to rapidly rotate the small turn tables, sand slinger mechanism adjacent said rammmg station with the nozzle of said sand slinger mounted over the sand space of the molding devices, and a guide rail to maintain said n oz zle over said sand space during the rotation of the said small turn tables.

3. Mechanismfor ramming equipment for the manufacture of ingot molds; said mechanism comprising a plurality of small turn tables adapted to carry a set-up of moldlng equipment having a sand space therein; a conveyor device for moving said turn tables past operating stations, comprising a ramming station, a stripping station, and a set-up station; a sand'slinger at the ramming station provided with a nozzle adapted to direct a stream of sand downwardly; means to maintain said nozzle over the sand space of said set-up; and means to cause a relative movement between said sand space and said nozzle whereby the sand is accumulated in said space in a continuous spiral layer.

4. Mechanism for ramming equipment for the manufacture of ingot molds; said mech anism comprising a plurality of small turn tables adapted to carry a set-up of molding equipment having a sand space therein; a conveyor device for moving said turn tables past operating stations, comprising a ramming station, a stripping station, and a setup station; a. sand slinger at the ramming station provided with a nozzle adapted to direct a stream of sand downwardly; a guide rail carried by the set-up to maintain said nozzle over the sand space of said set-up, and means to cause a relative movement between said sand space and said nozzle whereby the sand is accumulated in said space in a continuous spiral layer.

5. Apparatus for ramming ingot mold equipment having a non-cylindrical sand space therein, comprising means to rapidly rotate said equipment, a sand slinger having a nozzle adapted to discharge sand into the sand space of said equipment, and means to maintain the nozzle of said sand slinger over said non-cylindrical sand space during the rotation of said equipment.

6. Apparatus for ramming ingot mold equipment having a sand space therein, comprising means to rapidlv rotate said equipment, a sand slinger having a nozzle adapted to discharge sand into the sand space of said equipment, and a guide adjacent said nozzle and cooperating with a track on the equipment to maintain the nozzle of said sand slinger over said sand space during the rotation of said equipment.

7. A mechanism for sand ramming ingot mold apparatus provided with a tubular sand space therein, means to rotate said apparatus on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of said tubular space. a device to discharge a stream of sand at high velocity in the said space, and guide means carried by said mold apparatus to direct said stream into said space when said apparatus is rotated.

8. Mechanism for ramming ingot mold equipment comprising a turn table to carry a set-up of molding equipment having a sand space therein, a sand slinger provided with a. nozzle adapted to direct a stream of sand downwardly into the saidsand space, and variable drive gearing whereby the speed of rotation of said turn table may be varied in accordance with the length of the periphery of the sand space to be sanded.

9. Mechanism for ramming ingot mold equipment comprising a turn table to carry a set-up of molding equipment having a tubular sand space therein, a sand slinger provided with a nozzle adapted to directa stream of sand downwardly into the said tubular sand space, means to guide said nozzle when the turn table is rotated, and variable drive gearing whereby the speed of rotation of said turn table may be. varied in accordance with the length of the periphery of the sand space to be sanded.

10. Apparatus for ramming ingot mold ing the rotation of the said equipment.

JOHN E. PERRY. JAMES A. LANIGAN. 

